Torso

The back, especially in the female, tends to have pads of expanded fatty areas, not a diffuse thickening of the tissues as will most males. These areas are: infra scapular; posterior axillary; posterior waist; lumbo-sacral; and the buffalo hump at the upper central spine.

Liposuction of these pads will improve the general appearance of the back, the greatest benefit is in the patient who is otherwise reasonably slender save for the padded areas. Liposuction only removes the fat, it does not tighten the skin, and where there are very large deposits liposuction alone may not suffice.

The torso is divided into its two major components by the diaphragm, the dome-shaped horizontal muscle that lies between thorax (chest), and abdomen.

The thorax contains the essential organs of circulation (heart) and breathing (lungs). The abdomen contains the essential organs of nutrition (stomach, gut, liver), the organs of excretion (kidney and bladder), and in its pelvic cavity in the female, the organ of birth (uterus).

The torso is given stability by the vertebral column with 12 thoracic vertebrae and 5 lumbar vertebrae, which become thicker and heavier in descending order. The organs of the thorax are protected by the 12 paired ribs.

At the back of the torso is a complicated system of muscles which extend (straighten) the spine to maintain the erect position; at the front of the torso the abdominal muscles protect the abdominal contents and act as flexors (bend) the spine.

This case depicts a 33 year old woman who was fit, slender and had never been pregnant. She had, however, a genetic tendency to accumulate fat in the mid-body- front and back. Because she had excellent skin tone and skin elasticity, this type of individual was the optimal candidate for liposuction.